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Rite Aid Acquires Health Dialog to Expand Health Management Efforts

Today Rite Aid(NYSE:RAD)announced it has acquired Health Dialog Services Corporation, a firm providing patient support, as well as analytics and decision support in the health care industry. The financial terms of acquisition were not provided.

The acquisition of Heath Dialog will be used to both support and grow Rite Aid Health Alliance, which is the firm's health-management effort to provide "comprehensive care and support to individuals with chronic and poly chronic health conditions" by collaborating with health care providers. Previously Health Dialog supported these efforts independently, but it will now function as a wholly owned subsidiary of Rite Aid.

The Rite Aid Health Alliance is currently available in only three areas: Buffalo, N.Y., Greensboro, N.C., and the greater Los Angeles area. It was first announced on March 10 of this year.

When the Alliance was announced, CEO and chairman of Rite Aid, John Standley, said, "Through our innovative Rite Aid Health Alliance program, we will help patients with the resources and support necessary to successfully manage their conditions and improve their overall health and well being."

Patients with chronic and polychronic health conditions are referred to the Rite Aid Health Alliance by their physicians. In turn, Rite Aid pharmacists and "care coaches" in pharmacies work together with the physician to provide the patient with both health goals and an action plan to accomplish those goals. The intention is to improve both the health and self-management ability of the patients.

Health Dialog bills itself as helping people "participate in their health care decisions, develop more effective relationships with their physicians, and live longer, healthier, happier lives." It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Bupa and has been working with Rite Aid on the Health Alliance program over the past year.

"We are extremely pleased to have Health Dialog become a part of the Rite Aid family and believe this strategic acquisition will be mutually beneficial to both companies," noted Standley in today's press release announcing the deal. "This acquisition will provide Health Dialog with an expanded footprint to grow its existing business as well as further leverage the company's coaching services' expertise as we work to bring Rite Aid Health Alliance to more Rite Aid markets and customers."

Health Dialog Services Corporation's CEO Robert Mandel was quoted in the press release as saying, "We look forward to this new relationship and to an exciting future for Health Dialog as we work with Rite Aid to expand Rite Aid Health Alliance and pursue new opportunities to grow Health Dialog's portfolio of clients and services."

Author

After a few stints in banking and corporate finance, Patrick joined the Motley Fool as a writer covering the financial sector. He's scaled back his everyday writing a bit, but he's always happy to opine on the latest headline news surrounding Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett and all things personal finance.